A fixed term post for two years

Salary in the range £30,520 - £34,920 p.a.

Applications are invited for a Research Associate to join a multidisciplinary project characterising hydrocarbon recovery in carbonate reservoirs. You will be responsible for the numerical modelling aspects of the research, with a focus on model construction and simulation of multiphase flow. You will work closely with scientists and engineers in partner universities and in ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, who are funding the research. The project is being undertaken within the Petroleum Geoscience and Engineering Research Section of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, and forms part of a broader project (the FC2 Alliance) involving several academic institutions worldwide.

Carbonate reservoirs host over 60% of the world's remaining oil reserves and 40% of gas reserves. Understanding and predicting their production behaviour is of critical importance. However, carbonate reservoirs typically contain a complex assemblage of geological (stratigraphic, sedimentological and diagenetic) heterogeneities over a wide range of length-scales, each of which may impact on the flow of oil/gas/water during production. Consequently, the production behaviour of carbonate reservoirs is difficult to characterise and predict; moreover, they are challenging to capture in numerical models. The successful applicant will lead the development and application of leading-edge numerical modelling techniques to capture, characterise and predict the impact of heterogeneity on flow in carbonate reservoirs.

Applicants should be educated to PhD (or equivalent) level and have a background in numerate earth science, geophysics, physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science or equivalent. Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable but not essential: reservoir modelling, reservoir engineering, reservoir simulation, computational fluid dynamics and/or numerical modelling of multi-phase flow in porous media. You will join a dynamic, close-knit, interdisciplinary research team, working on a challenging project to generate new technology for improved oil and gas recovery. Your research will also contribute to Imperial College's ongoing commitment to deliver advanced modelling capabilities for petroleum reservoir evaluation. The successful applicant will be encouraged to develop their research career over a longer timescale within this framework and to liaise closely with our industry sponsors.

Informal enquiries about the position can be made to Dr Matthew Jackson at the address below or via e-mail: m.d.jackson@imperial.ac.uk or tel. ++44 (0) 20 7594 6538. Further information about the department can be found at www.imperial.ac.uk/ese. The successful applicant will join the Outcrop Modelling Group (www.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/research/perm/outcrop%20modelling).

Our preferred method of application is online via our website at the following link: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/employment (select "Job Search" and enter the job reference no EN20100002. Please quote this reference and PDRA/FC21 in all correspondence. Please complete and upload an application form as directed and submit any other relevant supporting documents such as your full CV.

Should you have any queries please contact: Mrs Darakshan Khan - d.khan@imperial.ac.uk

Closing date: 25 February 2010